Propagation of endangered grapevine cultivars: some reasons to recover and protect this patrimony

Abstract

Endangered grapevine plants of uncertain origin may represent a target for safeguarding. Current regulations guarantee the propagation of selected plant material following clonal procedures with the aim of excluding the most dangerous plant viruses. Thus, rare grapevine plants that survived the nineteenth-century plagues may be characterized by interesting epigenetic features. Their progeny could take on an important role with regard to today’s viticulture: consider how these individuals could represent an important source of genetic material that not only possesses biological, historical, scientific and educational value, but also the qualitative potential to attract interest from the most demanding markets.